Chincoteague Mayor J. Arthur Leonard and Town Manager Jim West briefed Congresswoman-elect Elaine Luria on federal issues affecting the town during Luria's meeting with Eastern Shore leaders on Monday in Wachapreague.

Among the salient issues is water — both drinking water and the seawater that comes through the increasingly large inlet to the south of Chincoteague Island, from which officials say town residents need protection.

West told Luria the town's year-around population is around 3,000, but swells with visitors to some 20,000 in the summer — an indication of how crucial tourism is to Chincoteague's economy.

"We are a site that is tourist based, where our neighbors are all federal — we've got NASA and the Department of the Interior," West said.

WELLS

"Our first issue here is water," he said, adding, "Our big issue now on Chincoteague is, our well fields are on NASA property."

"Our deep wells are now safe," West said, but the town continues to work with NASA to replace the wells or otherwise to find a permanent fix.

The fix — "upwards of $7 million in new wells and transmissions and studies" — is one that NASA officials "have shown a willingness (to do) and they are hoping that we can get some sort of permission ... or appropriation, if you will, to help us," West said.

The problem is, while NASA has the money, under current regulations it cannot be used for that purpose.

"It's for launch range operations and research. Congress needs to step in and allow them to spend their money to help us," West said.

The town recently purchased a 32-acre parcel of farmland on the mainland, with plans to use it for a new well site.

"We've also started looking at other options, such as desalination," West said.

WASTEWATER

What to do about sewage treatment on the island also is a major issue, West told Luria.

At present, when a large business wants to locate on Chincoteague, "they do their own sewage plant, because they can get the return," he said.

Still, others continue to have to rely on septic systems.

"We are at a point in our history where we really need to address it," West said, adding the town would like to be included in ongoing planning for a regional sewer system.

The inlet at the south end of the island has changed dramatically over time, West told Luria, adding, "It's deeper and wider, and it's a straight shot into the south end of the island."

That has resulted in erosion of wetlands that formerly protected the area, he said, noting, "Now we have waves beating on the south end of the island."

The town approached the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for help two years ago and was told it needed to raise $3 million for a study, with $1.5 million of that being in the form of a local match.

State officials are working to get the match funds, "and we would like you to support the $1.5 million federal match," West said, adding, "The frustration lies in that they need the study, and then they need to propose something to fix this — we don't know what the answer is — and time keeps marching by."

The town also wants to know what the threats to Chincoteague and to aquaculture in Toms Cove are from overwash at Assateague's southern end.

Additionally, Delegate Rob Bloxom said a plan for sand replenishment on nearby Wallops Island could affect Chincoteague or other areas.

"We don't really know what that sand replenishment is going to do once it's done," he said.

West agreed, saying, "We have no idea what they are going to do — how it will impact Chincoteague and our inlet. ... When you look at these barrier islands, it's a system. You can't do your own thing on your island without studying the whole Shore, but NASA tends to do that."

Leonard spoke about the federal plan to move Assateague's recreational beach north, and about issues that arise as result of having two different federal agencies — The U.S. Fish and WIldlife Service and the National Park Service — on Assateague, along with the various other federal agencies involved in Chincoteague-related matters, like the inlet issue.

"We have different federal agencies that surround us that have their own missions. Park Service and Fish and Wildlife don't want dredge spoil, even though it would be beneficial to them, it doesn't meet their criteria as aiding wildlife," he said, adding, "...So you run into these roadblocks with the federal government."

The beach relocation project might be better received if the frequent overwash area at Assateague's southern end, which protects Toms Cove and its aquaculture, also could be addressed, Leonard said.

Bloxom said, "My feeling is, you are going to have to defend the beach, because the beach — that little strip of sand — if you look at it and see the way it opens up to the south tip of Chincoteague, if that breeches, you are going to lose all of Toms Cove, which is a huge nursery for clams, and it also is going to ... wash the southern tip of Chincoteague away."